Collaboration with Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky customers will reduce greenhouse gas emissions

(January 9, 2019) — Installation of 346 solar panels on the Summit County Sheldon Richins Building is complete. The 107 kilowatt system is expected to generate 139,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, providing an estimated 40 to 45 percent of the building’s electrical needs and furthering the county’s goals of reducing emissions in county operations.

“Many commercial solar PV systems are mounted on flat roofs where few people even know they exist,” said Summit County Sustainability Coordinator, Lisa Yoder. “We are excited about this installation because the solar panels are visible on both sides of the sloped roof—from the Transit Center and from Hwy 224 heading into Park City. Residents and visitors can see that renewable energy is becoming commonplace and be able to learn about solar energy from the educational resources that will be available in the building.”

Creative Energies was awarded the solar installation contract through a competitive bid process. An educational kiosk in the lobby provides real-time electricity being generated by the solar panels on the roof in comparison to the amount of electricity being used by the building.

The Summit County Richins Services Building and the Kimball Junction Transit Center are powered by clean, renewable energy. This county campus showcases the future of transportation: electric transit buses, electric vehicle charging stations for electric vehicles, electric bikes and buildings powered by clean, renewable energy.

Summit County is grateful to the Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky customers for the generous $100,000 grant that provided 45 percent of the total cost of the solar installation.

“This is an exciting project that is helping Summit County reach its ambitious renewable energy goals,” Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power said. “We thank Blue Sky customers who make advancements like this possible in our communities.”

A check presentation ceremony celebrating the completion of the solar project is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at the Richins building located in Kimball Junction (1885 W Ute Boulevard, Park City).

Since 2006, Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky customers have voluntarily supported wind and solar energy generation in the region. Blue Sky has provided more than $10 million in funding to community-based renewable energy projects.